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Localisation provider OOONA has kicked off the new year with a new service: The POOOL, an online, openly searchable database of audiovisual translation talent around the world, directly accessible via OOONA’s website.

Intended to provide language service providers and individuals quick access to AV translators who are experienced in specific fields and language pairs, The POOOL’s directory of professionals includes those experienced in subtitling, closed captioning, linguistic and technical quality control, audio description, spotting, transcription, metadata translation, and post-production editing.

“We are establishing The POOOL in response to the rapidly increasing demand for media content localisation resources,” said OOONA CEO Wayne Garb in a statement. “A so-called ‘talent crunch’ is evident right across the media industry, accelerated by the ever-growing popularity of video-on-demand services.

“An industry-specific web portal is essential if you are trying to find media-savvy professionals with the right experience in translating audiovisual productions between specific languages. The POOOL is configured to be that portal. We have always made a point of being attentive to the needs of the AVT industry at every level and will be especially so in ensuring this venture achieves worldwide recognition.”

OOONA is developing The POOOL in co-operation with other stakeholders in media localisation, including LSPs, translators’ associations, localisation professionals and academia. And folded in with the new service is a professional qualification — AVT Pro Certification — that will be recognised by the localisation industry as a sign of quality and competence, OOONA said.

Endorsing translators who possess both linguistic knowledge and technical skills necessary to provide professional language services for the industry, the certification kicks off with a subtitling test for candidates.

“The increasing popularity of video-on-demand viewing, combined with the globalisation strategy driving the fast development of most OTT providers, has led to a vast increase in the volume of translation and access services needed to operate successfully in such a competitive mediascape,” said Jorge Díaz Cintas, professor of translation at University College, London.

“The POOOL looks set to become a really useful online hub for AVT specialists, allowing interested parties to identify and contact professionals with the necessary experience in terms of language combination, education, specific skills and location. In terms of AVT Pro Certification, the time is certainly ripe to establish such accreditation. I am delighted to be part of the discussions which have now been initiated and am confident that this joint effort will yield fruitful results in the very near future.”

Audiovisual localisation specialists and language service providers are invited to register in The POOOL via https://the-poool.com